Tokyo has experienced a record 35 consecutive days of rain, with residents waking to the sound of raindrops on Wednesday. Experts attribute this prolonged wet spell to a combination of climate change and El Niño, which has created a sustained high-pressure front in the Pacific Ocean.
Central Tokyo received 629mm (24.8 inches) of rain from the start of September to Monday, nearly three times the usual amount. Over the same period, the city had only 45.8 hours of daylight, the second lowest on record, with 14 days experiencing no sunshine at all.
The continuous rain has led to a sharp increase in vegetable prices, particularly leafy greens, due to crop damage. Dr. Hiromichi Ito, a clinic director in Tokyo, noted that the prolonged rain, low atmospheric pressure, and high humidity could contribute to headaches, dizziness, and other symptoms affecting people's physical and mental health.
While the rain had reduced to a light drizzle by late Wednesday morning, more could be expected as this year's El Niño warms the Pacific Ocean, potentially intensifying extreme weather patterns linked to the climate crisis. Meteorological officials also stated that another typhoon, the 26th of the season, was moving in a north-easterly direction and could affect the Kanto region, where Tokyo is located.